Comparison of three different ways of measuring distances between residences and high voltage power lines

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether distance data based on calculations by use of digitalized geographical information systems (GIS) and distance data based on measurements on 1:5000 maps agree sufficiently with on site distance measurements to be used as input to magnetic field calculations in epidemiological studies. The analysis were performed by use of weighted kappa (kappa(w)) statistical method described by Bland and Altman for comparison of measures of agreement. Map measurements showed better agreement with on site measurements than GIS calculations did. However, we consider both methods appropriate for use in larger epidemiological studies if the results are interpreted with caution. GIS calculations have the advantage of being both time and cost saving.     

Microbial-host interactions specifically control the glycosylation pattern in intestinal mouse mucosa

The glycosylation of the intestinal cell layer is thought to control several key functions of the gut such as vectorial transports, defence against microbial agents or immunological processes. It has been assumed that the gut microflora may modulate the glycosylation pattern of the intestinal cell layer. However, there is no direct evidence for this regulatory process. The first goal of this work was to establish the germ-free mice intestinal glycosylation baseline using a histochemical approach and a panel of ten lectins with defined glycan specificities to tissue sections prepared from various cellular compartments of the small and large intestine. Using this baseline, we have studied the contribution of the gut microflora on the carbohydrate composition of glycoconjugates of intestinal cells by comparing the germ-free and conventional mice glycosylation patterns. Analysis of the germ-free mice intestinal glycosylation baseline revealed that the expression of glycans depends on the proximodistal gradient (small to large intestine) and on the cell lineage (absorptive, goblet, crypt, and Paneth cells), indicating that mice are able to create and maintain a strict topological and cell lineage-specific regulation of glycosyltransferase expression. By comparing germ-free and conventional mice, we find that the gut microflora specifically modulates the gut glycosylation pattern, quantitatively as well as qualitatively by changing the cellular and subcellular distribution of glycans. This is the first report in mice to directly demonstrate the critical contribution of microflora to intestinal glycosylation, a key characteristic of the gut.     

POPULATION DIVERGENCE IN SEXUAL ORNAMENTS: THE WHITE FOREHEAD PATCH OF NORWEGIAN PIED FLYCATCHERS IS SMALL AND UNSEXY

Models of sexual selection suggest that populations may easily diverge in male secondary sexual characters. Studies of a Spanish population of the pied flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca, and a Swedish population of the closely related collared flycatcher, F. albicollis, have indicated that the white forehead patch of males is a sexually selected trait. We studied the white forehead patch of male pied flycatchers (n = 487) in a Norwegian population over seven years. Males with large forehead patches were in general more brightly colored, but patch height was not correlated to body mass, body size, or parasite loads. Conditions during the nestling period did not seem to influence patch height as an adult. Patch height increased slightly from the first to the second year as adults, but then remained relatively constant at higher ages. Patch height was not related to survival. Year-to-year changes showed that males who increased in patch height also increased in body mass, suggesting that expression of the forehead patch may be partly condition dependent. However, changes in body mass explained only a small proportion of the variance in patch height between males. Thus, patch height would not be a good indicator of male quality. Furthermore, patch size was also not related to male ability to feed nestlings, indicating that females would not obtain direct benefits by choosing males with large patches. However, patch height could be a Fisher trait, but this requires heritability and there was no significant father-son resemblance in patch height. Comparisons of the males visited by each female during the mate sampling period indicated that chosen males did not have larger forehead patches than rejected males. Experimental manipulation of patch height did not affect male mating success. These results indicate that females do not use patch size as a mate choice cue. Finally, patch height did not predict the outcome of male contests for nestboxes, suggesting that the forehead patch is not an intrasexually selected cue of status. Norwegian pied flycatchers have smaller forehead patches than both Spanish pied flycatchers and Swedish collared flycatchers. We suggest that this pattern may be explained by the lack of sexual selection on the forehead patch in the Norwegian population as compared to the other populations, where the patch is apparently sexually selected. We discuss possible reasons for these population divergences, such as female choice on an alternative secondary sexual character (general plumage color) and speciation among Ficedula flycatchers.     

Nightmare frequency as a function of age, gender, and September 11, 2001: Findings from an Internet questionnaire.

Retrospective estimates of nightmare frequency for a sample of 23,990 respondents to an Internet questionnaire (female: N = 19,367, mean age = 24.9 ± 10.14 years; male: N = 4,623; mean age = 25.5 ± 10.81) were evaluated as a function of age, gender, and pre- versus post-September 11, 2001. Female respondents reported more frequent monthly nightmares (4.44 ± 6.71) than did male respondents (3.39 ± 6.07), and this result was seen for all age strata younger than 60. Also, for female respondents, nightmare frequency increased from ages 10-19 to 20-39 then decreased monotonically to ages 50-59. For male respondents, nightmare frequency was stable from ages 10-19 to 30-39 then decreased to ages 50-59. An increase in nightmare frequency was observed post-September 11 only for male respondents-particularly for 10- to 29-year-olds. This increase was sustained 2 years later. These effects were maintained when dream recall was held constant. Results replicate, in a single sample, previously published gender and age effects and provide new evidence that the nightmares of males may be differentially sensitive to traumatic events for which victims and/or perpetrators are primarily male. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Isolation from bovine liver mitochondria of a soluble ferredoxin active in a reconstituted steroid hydroxylation reaction.

An iron-sulfur protein has been isolated from bovine liver mitochondria and purified 140-fold on DEAE-cellulose and Sephadex G-100. During the isolation the protein was detected by its NADPH-cytochrome $\text{c}$ reductase activity in the presence of adrenal NADPH-ferredoxin reductase. The molecular weight of the protein (12,400), the optical spectrum (peaks at 414 nm and 455 nm which disappear upon reduction), and the EPR spectrum (g_x = g_y = 1.935 and g_z = 2.02) were typical for a ferredoxin. In the presence of soluble adrenal cytochrome P₄₅₀, ferredoxin reductase and NADPH, this protein could support the formation of pregnenolone from cholesterol. Under similar conditions, but in the presence of a cytochrome P₄₅₀ solubilized from rat liver mitochondria, cholesterol was transformed into a more polar compound tentatively identified as 26-hydroxycholesterol.     

Clutch size variation in passerine birds: The nest predation hypothesis

Summary The hypothesis that a negative relationship exists between clutch size and the probability that the nest will be robbed is tested, using data for passerine birds given in the literature. The data for four separate groups of species, viz. hole-nesters, semi hole-nesters and open-nesters nesting above and on the ground, respectively, were examined in relation to geographical gradients and seasonal and annual variation. In general, the data analysis results support the hypothesis, but cannot yet be considered as proven. More data on the riks of nest predation are needed. The most serious discrepancy is that for the Fieldfare, the protection from predation provided by nesting in colonies does not seem to be accompanied by a corresponding increase in clutch size. However, the clutch size of the Brambling, a species with seeks out such colonies for its breeding sites, does tend to increase in these hatitats.The pattern of clutch size variation was similar for the two groups of hole-nesting species, but differed significantly from that found for the two groups of open-nesters. The difference in the clutch size variation of the two groups of open-nesting species predicted from the hypothesis, viz. that, in northern regions, both latitudinal and altitudinal increases in clutch size should more commonly be found for those species which nest on the ground, compared to those nesting above ground level, was confirmed.A seasonal decrease in clutch size, in temperate regions, was found to be typical for species whose nests are subject to relatively little predation, particularly for those species which have a short breeding season. Advantages of laying small clutches, resulting in fewer nestlings than the number which would be possible for the parents to rear successfully, are discussed, and a simple model is presented which does not assume that nest predation is dependent on clutch size.     

Bioinformatic identification of polymerizing and transmembrane mucins in the puffer fish Fugu rubripes

Mucins are large glycoproteins characterized by mucin domains that show little sequence conservation and are rich in the amino acids Ser, Thr, and Pro. To effectively predict mucins from genomic and protein sequences obtained from genome projects, we developed a strategy based on the amino acid compositional bias characteristic of the mucin domains. This strategy is combined with an analysis of other features commonly found in mucins. Our method has now been used to predict mucins in the puffer fish Fugu rubripes that were previously not identified or annotated. At least three gel-forming mucins were found with the same general domain structure as the human MUC2 mucin. In addition one transmembrane mucin was identified with SEA and EGF domains as found in the mammalian transmembrane mucins. These results suggest that the number of gel-forming mucins has been conserved during evolution of the vertebrates, whereas the family of transmembrane mucins has been markedly expanded in the higher vertebrates.     

Synthesis of methylphenidate analogues and their binding affinities at dopamine and serotonin transport sites

The rhodium(II)-catalyzed intermolecular C-H insertion of methyl aryldiazoacetates with either N-Boc-piperidine or N-Boc-pyrrolidine followed by deprotection with trifluoroacetic acid is a very direct method for the synthesis of methylphenidate analogues. By using either dirhodium tetraacetate or dirhodium tetraprolinate derivatives as catalyst, either the racemic or enantioenriched methylphenidate analogues can be prepared. The binding affinities of the methylphenidate analogues to both the dopamine and the serotonin transporters are described. The most notable compounds are the erythro-(2-naphthyl) analogues which display high binding affinity and selectivity for the serotonin transporter.     

How should clinical data be included in experimental studies of cancer immunology?

Patients diagnosed with the same malignant disease are often heterogeneous with regard to age, complications, malignant cell morphology and tumor histology, disease stage, prognostic parameters, and previous therapy. Many of these factors can affect immunocompetent cells or influence the malignant cell susceptibility to immunotherapy. Summaries of relevant clinical information should therefore be included in cancer immunology studies to increase the present as well as the future scientific impact. Guidelines for selection of relevant information are suggested in the article.